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Abstract:

The present invention relates to a valve control device (1) having a
housing (2) which has a vacuum chamber (3) and an atmospheric pressure
chamber (4) which are separated from one another in a gas-tight manner by
a spring-loaded diaphragm (5); having a diaphragm plate (8) arranged on
the diaphragm (5); and having a regulating rod (6) which, in the region
of a regulating rod head (6A), is operatively connected to the diaphragm
(5), wherein the diaphragm plate (8) is formed as a plastic
injection-molded part.

Claims:

1. A valve control device (1) having a housing (2) which has a vacuum
chamber (3) and an atmospheric pressure chamber (4) which are separated
from one another in a gas-tight manner by a spring-loaded diaphragm (5);
having a diaphragm plate (8) arranged on the diaphragm (5); and having a
regulating rod (6) which, in the region of a regulating rod head (6A), is
operatively connected to the diaphragm (5), wherein the diaphragm plate
(8) is formed as a plastic injection-molded part.

2. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating
rod head (6A) is connected to the diaphragm plate (8) by being
encapsulated by injection molding by the plastic material of said
diaphragm plate.

3. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating
rod head (6A) has, at a face-side end (9) projecting into the vacuum
chamber (3), a first anchoring section (6B) whose diameter (BB) is
larger than the diameter (D) of the regulating rod (6).

4. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the regulating
rod head (6A) has, below the first anchoring section (6B), a second
anchoring section (6C) whose diameter (BC) is larger than the
diameter (D) of the regulating rod (6).

5. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the entire
diaphragm surface (7) is covered by the diaphragm plate (8).

6. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm
(5) has a passage recess (21) for the regulating rod head (6A), which
passage recess (21) is closed off by the material of the diaphragm plate
(8).

7. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm
plate (8) has a receiving region (10) for a magnet (11) for position
detection.

8. The valve control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the receiving
region (10) has a chamber (19) for receiving the magnet, which chamber
can be closed off by means of a cover (20) after the magnet (11) has been
inserted.

9. The valve control device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the diaphragm
(5) has a fixing section (22) which engages into a groove (23) of the
diaphragm plate (8), wherein said groove in said diaphragm plate is
located in the vicinity of the shaft.

10. The valve control device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the magnet
(11) is embedded in the receiving region (10) during the course of the
production of the diaphragm plate (8).

11. A valve control device (1) having a housing (2) which has a vacuum
chamber (3) and an atmospheric pressure chamber (4) which are separated
from one another in a gas-tight manner by a spring-loaded pot-shaped
diaphragm (5); having a pot-shaped diaphragm plate (8) arranged on the
pot-shaped diaphragm (5); and having a regulating rod (6) which, in the
region of a regulating rod head (6A), is operatively connected to the
diaphragm (5), wherein the diaphragm plate (8) is formed as a plastic
injection-molded part.

12. A valve control device (1) having a housing (2) which has a vacuum
chamber (3) and an atmospheric pressure chamber (4) which are separated
from one another in a gas-tight manner by a spring-loaded pot-shaped
diaphragm (5); having a pot-shaped diaphragm plate (8) arranged on the
pot-shaped diaphragm (5); and having a regulating rod (6) which, in the
region of a regulating rod head (6A), is operatively connected to the
diaphragm (5), wherein the diaphragm plate (8) is formed as a plastic
injection-molded part, and the diaphragm plate (8) has a receiving region
(10) for a magnet (11) for position detection.

Description:

[0001] The invention relates to a valve control device according to the
preamble of claim 1.

[0002] A control device of said type is known from EP 1 491 754 A1. Such
control devices, which are also referred to as control capsules, have a
vacuum chamber which is arranged in a housing and which is connected to a
vacuum source, for example to the vacuum pump of an engine. Arranged in
said vacuum chamber is a diaphragm which is preloaded in one direction by
a spring. The diaphragm separates the vacuum chamber from a second
pressure chamber which can be connected to the atmosphere or to a further
vacuum source. The diaphragm is connected via a diaphragm plate composed
of metal to a regulating rod which for example actuates the shut-off
element of a bypass valve. For this purpose, a vacuum is built up in the
vacuum chamber, as a result of which the diaphragm is deformed counter to
the spring force and the regulating rod is thereby moved.

[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a
control device of the type specified in the preamble of claim 1, which
control device allows the production outlay thereof to be reduced.

[0004] Said object is achieved by means of the features of claim 1.

[0005] According to the invention, the reduction in production outlay is
obtained firstly in that the diaphragm plate is formed not from metal but
rather as a simple plastic injection-molded part.

[0006] Preferably, during the course of the production of the diaphragm
plate composed of plastic, the regulating rod head of the regulating rod
is encapsulated by injection molding by the plastic material, such that
the regulating rod can be connected to the diaphragm plate at the same
time as the latter is being produced.

[0007] To connect the unit composed of diaphragm plate and regulating rod
to the diaphragm, the diaphragm rod is firstly inserted through a central
recess of the diaphragm, and a connection of the diaphragm and diaphragm
plate is subsequently realized by means of the latching of fixing
sections of the diaphragm in the region of the central recess thereof
through a groove in the plastic material surrounding the regulating rod
head.

[0008] The control device according to the invention may in principle be
used for any type of valves, but in particular for the actuation of
turbocharger exhaust-gas bypass valves, of exhaust-gas recirculation
valves and of valves by means of which fresh air can be controlled.

[0009] The subclaims relate to advantageous refinements of the invention.

[0010] Further details, advantages and features of the present invention
will emerge from the following description of an exemplary embodiment on
the basis of the drawing, in which:

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a schematically slightly simplified sectional
illustration through a control device or control capsule according to the
invention, and

[0012] FIGS. 2A-2C show schematically simplified illustrations of a
receiving region of a diaphragm plate of the control device according to
FIG. 1 for explaining an alternative possibility for the insertion of a
magnet into said receiving region.

[0013] The control device 1 according to the invention serves for example
for the actuation of bypass valves or of the shut-off elements of bypass
valves of said type, which are used in exhaust-gas turbochargers.

[0014] The control device 1 has a housing 2 in which, in the example, a
vacuum chamber 3 is arranged in the upper part. The vacuum chamber 3 is
separated from a pressure chamber 4, which is at atmospheric pressure, by
a spring-loaded diaphragm 5.

[0015] The vacuum chamber 3 is delimited by an upper housing part 12 and
the pot-shaped diaphragm 5. A compression spring 15 is arranged in the
vacuum chamber 3.

[0016] The atmospheric pressure chamber 4 is delimited by the diaphragm 5
and by a second housing part 13 situated below the upper housing part 12,
wherein the diaphragm 5 is clamped, at its free circumferential end
regions 16 and 17, by said two housing parts 12 and 13.

[0017] As can be seen from FIG. 1, the diaphragm 5 has a diaphragm surface
7 pointing toward the vacuum chamber 3, and is also provided with a
passage recess 21 for a regulating rod head 6A of the regulating rod 6.
As shown by the Figure, the regulating rod head 6A is connected to a
diaphragm plate 8 by encapsulation by injection molding.

[0018] To connect the unit composed of diaphragm plate 8 and regulating
rod 6, the regulating rod 6 is initially inserted through the passage
recess or central recess 21 of the diaphragm. For final fixing, a fixing
section 22, which is arranged adjacent to the passage recess 21, of the
diaphragm 5 engages into a groove 23 of the plastic material of the
diaphragm plate 8. Said latching is possible on account of the elasticity
of the diaphragm 5, such that a type of "snap-action latching connection"
is generated which, moreover, seals off the central recess or passage
recess 21, as can be seen in detail from the illustration of FIG. 1. In
said final assembled state, the diaphragm plate 8 covers the diaphragm
surface 7, as can likewise be seen in detail from the diagrammatic
illustration of FIG. 1. Said Figure also shows that, in the final
assembled state, the compression spring 15 rests with its lower end on
the diaphragm plate 8, while the upper end of said compression spring is
supported on the upper housing part 12.

[0019] To improve the retaining action, the regulating rod head 6A has, in
the illustrated particularly preferred exemplary embodiment, a first
anchoring section 6B at a face-side end 9 projecting into the vacuum
chamber 3. The diameter BB of said anchoring section 6B is larger
than the diameter D of the regulating rod 6.

[0020] Provided below said first anchoring section 6B is a second
anchoring section 6C whose diameter BC is likewise larger than the
diameter D of the regulating rod 6. The fixing of the regulating rod 6 in
the diaphragm plate 8 is further improved by said two anchoring sections
6B and 6C.

[0021] As can also be seen from FIG. 1, the diaphragm plate 8 is provided
with a receiving region 10 which, in the example, is arranged centrally
and projects in the manner of a tower into the vacuum chamber 3. A magnet
11 for position detection is arranged in said receiving region 10. Said
arrangement may take place during the course of the encapsulation by
injection molding of the regulating rod head 6A and the production of the
diaphragm plate 8.

[0022] FIGS. 2A to 2C show an alternative possibility for the embedding of
the magnet 11. In this case, the upwardly projecting receiving region 10
has a chamber 19 which, in the state shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, is
upwardly open. Accordingly, according to the illustration of FIG. 2B, the
magnet 11 can be pushed into the chamber 19 from above.

[0023] According to the illustration of FIG. 2c, said pushing-in process
is complete, such that the magnet 11 is received in the chamber 19. Said
chamber 19 in turn can now be closed off by means of a cover 20. Said
cover 20 may for example be laser-welded or may also be produced by
casting.

[0024] In addition to the above written disclosure of the invention,
reference is hereby explicitly made to the diagrammatic illustration
thereof in FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B and 2C.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0025] 1 Control device/control capsule

[0026] 2 Housing

[0027] 3 Vacuum
chamber

[0028] 4 Atmospheric pressure chamber

[0029] 5 Diaphragm

[0030] 6
Regulating rod

[0031] 6A Regulating rod head

[0032] 6B First anchoring
section

[0033] 6C Second anchoring section

[0034] 7 Diaphragm surface

[0035] 8 Diaphragm plate

[0036] 9 Face-side end

[0037] 10 Receiving
region

[0038] 11 Magnet

[0039] 12, 13 Housing regions

[0040] 14 Sliding
bush

[0041] 15 Compression spring

[0042] 16, 17 End regions

[0043] 18
Vacuum port

[0044] 19 Chamber

[0045] 20 Cover

[0046] 21 Passage recess

[0047] BB, BC, D Diameter

Patent applications by Ralf Christmann, Kaiserslautern DE

Patent applications by BorgWarner Inc.

Patent applications in class Particular head and seat cooperation

Patent applications in all subclasses Particular head and seat cooperation